Team time trial returns to Mallorca Challenge 2026 after 35 years

This kind of race is unusual in today’s calendar, similar to the Chrono des Nations at the end of the season, where riders take on a standalone time trial that isn’t part of a stage race or any championship. The last time an Elite Time Trial was held as an Elite Men's one day race coming all the way back in 2007 with the Eindhoven TTT, with the statistics pointed out by laflammerouge16 on X.

This kind of race is unusual in today’s calendar, similar to the Chrono des Nations at the end of the season, where riders take on a standalone time trial that isn’t part of a stage race or any championship. It offers a different rhythm and atmosphere, focused purely on speed, teamwork and precision rather than general classification tactics.

The 26-kilometre route runs from Ses Salines to Colonia de Sant Jordi, passing through Campos. “It will be a non-technical route,” organisers said, “because at that time of the year and with possible rain, neither the teams nor the organisation want to take more risks than necessary.”

The idea surfaced during last year’s Vuelta in Figueres, when a similar event caught the attention of several teams. Beyond the spectacle, the stage offers a valuable opportunity to fine-tune setups and test equipment under race conditions. With the 2026 Tour de France also starting with a team time trial, Mallorca could draw top squads eager to prepare their lineups for the summer.

Running from January 28 to February 1 for the men’s race, and January 24 to 26 for the women’s event, the Challenge once again sets the tone for the European season. The return of the team time trial adds both nostalgia and purpose to the island’s early showcase.